Hever Castle in Kent is the Grade 1 listed childhood home of Anne Boleyn. When FRLA was approached to redesign the play area, it was important that we created something that was exciting, unique and responded to the history of the site. We wanted to provide the visitors with the experience of exploring a castle, peering over parapets, squeezing through priest-holes, getting lost in a dungeon; all things that weren’t possible in the actual castle due to its listed status.
Therefore we designed an oak-framed Tudor style castle that is constructed using a combination of traditional woodworking and blacksmithing techniques combined with modern, CNC cut fabrics and welded stainless-steel components. As part of the design process, we developed a narrative describing how this new castle came into being. This involves three different occupants, based on animals found on the coats-of-arms of the previous owners of Hever Castle, who have hidden their treasure in the castle. Can you solve the puzzles and find their secret hiding places?
Phase 2, of the playground, “Acorn Dell“, has now been completed.
